Vielle à Roue (Hurdy-Gurdy)
1865–70
Jacques Decante
Jacques Decante (French, 1808–1884)
Decorative Art and Design
Vielle à Roue (Hurdy-Gurdy), 1865–70. Jacques Decante (French, 1808–1884). Wood; mother-of-pearl inlay; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Clara Taplin Rankin 2020.422 In France, the hurdy-gurdy is known as the vielle à roue (wheel fiddle). This six-stringed musical instrument produces sound by a hand crank-turned wheel that rubs against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes sound similar to those of a violin. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses small wedges against the strings to change their pitch. This vielle à roue was made in the French village of Jenzat, which was the manufacturing center for hurdy-gurdies during the 19th century.
- Maker/Artist
- Jacques Decante
- Classification
- Musical Instrument
- Formatted Medium
- Wood; mother-of-pearl inlay
- Medium
- wood, mother-of-pearl, inlay
- Departments
- Decorative Art and Design
- Accession Number
- 2020.422
- Credit Line
- Gift of Clara Taplin Rankin
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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